American Soccer Pyramid: What If?

What if… lets speculate on how the North American soccer pyramid would have looked this year if there were promotion/relegation. No playoffs. Just a full season that would mean everything. A long-shot with the current state of U.S. Soccer, who is supposed to govern the entire sport in this country.

MLS had a tremendous race for the Supporters’ Shield this season with four clubs within four points! The New York Red Bulls should be praised for months for their accomplishment! Instead they were eliminated from the 10-team MLS playoffs just two games later by a mid-table club and what they achieved is long-forgotten in the American soccer fans’ mind.

Imagine the relegation race between Toronto FC and Chivas USA? Or the year-long promotion fight between Carolina, Tampa Bay and Atlanta in NASL? Richmond Kickers and Orlando City SC would have earned their promotion from USL Pro (not AWARDED an MLS franchise)!

England has it. Germany too. Russia, Spain, Colombia, Peru and even Uzbekistan! So why not here?